When Lisa Gissing talks – people listen.
She has a powerful message: “There is absolutely no shame in being caught by scammers.”
Her audience nods slowly. More Australians are falling victim to scams, and the stigma around it remains a growing issue.
“We live in an increasingly digital world… so digital banking is really an overview to build confidence around using it to keep our money safe”
Lisa, a facilitator with The Smith Family, plays a key role in delivering financial wellbeing workshops aimed at helping Australians build the skills and confidence they need to navigate an increasingly complex financial world.
Launched in 2025, ANZ’s Financial Wellbeing Workshops are a national program delivered in partnership with The Smith Family, designed to improve financial capability across metro and regional communities.
The free, in-person sessions provide practical education on key financial safety topics, including scam prevention, safe online banking and accessing support during financial hardship.
One of the latest workshops took place in Southport on Queensland’s Gold Coast, where locals gathered at a community centre to build confidence in managing everyday financial risks.
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Lisa says the sessions are responding to a growing challenge.
“Scams are an increasing problem in the community, and the more we talk about it, the more we put the scammers on the back foot,” she says.
“We live in an increasingly digital world… so digital banking is really an overview to build confidence around using it to keep our money safe.”
The workshops are designed to be practical, accessible and stigma-free, helping people feel comfortable asking questions and learning at their own pace.
“In these workshops we look at digital banking, scam protection and also support in times of need,” Gissing says.
“Scammers are incredibly sophisticated and getting more sophisticated by the day.”
Janet Liu, Head of Social Impact & Community at ANZ, says the program’s impact lies in its community-based approach.
“These workshops work really well because of two elements,” she says. “Firstly, they’re delivered within the participants’ community, so people feel very supported. And secondly, they reduce the stigma.”
The sessions also introduce participants to MoneyMinded, ANZ’s flagship financial education program, and provide practical tools that can be taken home and shared with family and friends.
For Southport participant Lorraine Thomson, the workshop delivered both insight and reassurance.
“I’ve learned a lot today. It’s created an awareness that I didn’t have before,” she says.
Open to everyone, not just ANZ customers, the workshops are helping reach those who may feel less confident navigating digital banking or managing financial challenges.
As digital risks and financial pressures continue to evolve, initiatives like the Southport workshop are playing an important role in equipping communities with the knowledge and tools they need to stay safe and in control of their financial wellbeing.
The next two workshops will be held in July in South Australia, in Kadina and Morphett Vale.
Alicia Muling is Senior Journalist at ANZ